British Columbia Government and Service Employees’ Union in support of the striking workers in Colombia
May 03, 2019
Solidarity message with Colombia’s National Strike
In February, representatives of social movements, organizations and political parties took part in a national meeting to decide on a common plan to defend life, land, peace and democracy and fight the neoliberal and extractive policies of the right-wing government of Duque – they agreed on a united call for a National Strike. On April 25, political parties, trade unions, Indigenous and Afro-descendant organizations, will mobilize on Colombia’s major roads, streets, highways, plazas, universities and shop floors as part of the National Strike. The strike is expected to be one of the biggest in Colombian history with over 180 Colombian organizations taking. This massive strike is the culmination of months of anger and indignation felt by Colombian people across the social, economic and political sectors.
What can you do?
Sent a short video message or picture (hastag #abrilmesderesistencia) expressing your solidarity with the April 25th national strike. Send the video via https://www.swisstransfer.com/en or directly to Blandine blandine@pasc.ca. All material will be posted on https://www.congresodelospueblos.org and https://www.albamovimientos.org
Colombians will mobilize in defense of peace and against the neoliberal policies of the right-wing government of president Iván Duque. Some demands include:
1. That the government comply with agreements signed with the social movements, as well as with the Peace Agreements signed between the Colombian government and the former guerilla group, Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) in 2016 in Havana, Cuba.
2. Rejection of the National Development Plan (PND) proposed by Ivan Duque’s government. According to the movements, the PND is yet another neoliberal policy favors foreign extractivist companies over the Colombian people.
3. Demand the National Government of Colombia take immediate action to both protect the lives of social leaders in the country, and put an end to the rampant paramilitary violence that has left 600 leaders dead since the Havana peace agreements were signed.
4. Demand an end to state violence against leaders, pointing to the sharp increase in the criminalization, stigmatization, persecution and threats to social leaders. Hundreds of leaders are currently in jail because of their commitment and dedication to fighting for social change and peace while the assassins of leaders enjoy impunity.
